Press Notes
by Ed Jacobs/Wind River Group
Results with Leg Times
Event Flyer
Press Release
MEDIA ALERT
Event:
Sno*Drift ProRally; Round 1 of the 1999 Michelin SCCA Pro Rally
Championship. ProRally cars from across North America will race on the
snow-covered forest roads of north-central Michigan - both in daylight and
at night.
When: Feb. 19-20, 1999
Where: Atlanta, Michigan
Headquarters: A Wins-Sans Motel; Atlanta, Michigan
Sanction:
Sno*Drift is sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA)
Schedule:
Friday, Feb. 19
12:00 noon - 10:00 p.m.
Driver registration; A Win-Sans Motel
12:00 noon - 2:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Press registration; Atlanta Seniors' Center
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Media action video/photo opportunity (press stage); Assemble at Atlanta
Seniors' Center by 1:30 p.m.
2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Scrutineering (technical inspection); Suiter's Total/Mobil
Saturday, Feb. 20
9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Parc Expose (rally vehicles on display); A Wins-Sans Motel
10:01 a.m.
Start - first vehicle begins Sno*Drift ProRally; A Win-Sans Motel
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Lunch break; Atlanta, Michigan
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Dinner break; Atlanta, Michigan
10:30 p.m.
Finish; Elks Lodge; Atlanta, Michigan
11:00 p.m.
Thank you party for event workers; Elks Lodge; Atlanta, Michigan
Format:
Events in the Michelin SCCA ProRally Championship consist of flat-out
racing -- day or night, in any weather condition - on challenging forest,
mountain or desert roads. No practice is allowed. Competitors generally see
the course for the first time as they race it.
ProRallies are made up of roads designated "stages" and "transits." Racing
takes place only on the stages, which consist of demanding roads closed by
local authorities for the event. Transits connect the racing sections and
are driven at normal highway speeds, with teams fully subject to all
traffic laws. ProRallies have a minimum of 100 stage miles.
ProRally vehicles are production-based cars (and some trucks) from
manufacturers around the world. They compete both for the overall victory
and wins within a class structure that groups together vehicles with
similar performance. Each vehicle carries a driver and a
co-driver/navigator. Using a detailed route book and a sophisticated rally
computer, the co-driver keeps the team on-course and advises the driver of
any approaching hazards noted in the route book. This role is as critical
as the driver's skill, since the team is traveling at full racing speeds
over roads they have never before seen.in any type of weather, day or
night.
Sno*Drift will be 253 miles long, with 16 stages, totaling 106 miles. The
longest stage will be more than 15 miles in length. There will be 147
transit miles.
Selected emtries:
Two Mitsubishi Evo IV supercars of the type used in the World Rally
Championship are expected, one for the son-and-father team of Garen and
F.R. "Doc" Shrader, the other for Peter Lahm and Matt Chester. They will
compete both for the overall victory and the Open Class win. In the
Production GT Class, a pair of Mazda 323 GTXs driven by Gail Truess and
Pattie Hughes, and Tom Ottey and Pam McGarvey, will square off against a
pair of Mitsubishi Eclipses driven by Cal Landau and Eric Marcus, and Chris
Czyzio and Eric Carlson. Among those slugging it out in the Production
Class will be the Plymouth Neon ACR of Evan and Ronald Moen and the
Mitsubishi Mirage LS of Edward Mucklow and Mark Bowers. Group 2 contenders
include the Suzuki Swift of David S. and David L. Cizmas, and the Saab 99GL
of Tim Winker and Brenda Corneliusen. Among those competing for the Group 5
win will be the Toyota MR2 of Mike Moyer and Chris Gilligan, and the Dodge
Omni of Mark Utecht and Diane Sargent.
Event rank:
Sno*Drift is a Coefficient 3 event in the Michelin SCCA ProRally
Championship. SCCA National license-holders will receive 60 percent of
National points.
Interviews:
Drivers, co-drivers and crewmembers will be accessible most of Friday, Feb.
19, as well as on a limited basis prior to the start and during the rally's
service breaks on Saturday, Feb. 20. Media relations will assist
journalists desiring interviews.
Visuals:
Prior to the event:
Media will have the opportunity for exciting video and still-photography
action shots of rally cars at speed during the press stage, Friday, Feb.
19, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Media should assemble at the Atlanta Seniors'
Center by 1:30 p.m.
During the event:
Four special viewing areas have been set up along the rally course. Action
photography and video will be possible from these locations. Media
relations may be able to arrange additional vantage points for media if
given sufficient advance notice.
Media rally-car rides at speed:
Media will be given the opportunity to experience the intense excitement of
ProRally cars car at speed during the press stage. Assembly point for the
press stage is the Atlanta Seniors' Center, prior to 1:30 p.m. on Friday,
Feb. 19.
Media info:
Media relations will be able to provide video of ProRally cars in action,
driver and co-driver interviews, phone-ins, event results and other
information. Voice and print information will be available via telephone,
fax and Email.
Contact: Ed Jacobs - Michelin SCCA Pro Rally Championship
Prior to Feb. 18 or after Feb. 22:
330/644-7774
330/645-2045 Fax
Feb. 18 through Feb. 22:
Rally headquarters - A Wins-Sans Motel 517/785-2337
Email, at any time: windrivr@ix/netcom.com
1999 Sno*Drift ProRally
Atlanta, Michigan - February 20, 1999
Tentative Start Order
Driver/Hometown (seed) Class Car
Co-driver/Hometown
1. Cal Landau/Coraopolis, PA (1) Production GT 91 Mitsubishi Eclipse
Eric Marcus/Beavercreek, OH
2. Peter Lahm/Phoenix, AZ (2) Open 98 Mitsubishi Evo IV
Matt Chester/Leadville, CO
3. Jon Kemp/Attica, NY (2) Open 84 Audi 4000 quattro
Brian Maxwell/Port Hope, Ontario, Canada
4. Chris Czyzio/Flushing, MI (2) Production GT 91 Mitsubishi Eclipse
Eric Carlson/Oregon, WI
5. Bryan Pepp/Marquette, MI (2) Production GT 90 Eagle Talon
Jerry Stang/Marquette, MI
6. Gail Truess/Brooklyn, MI (2) Production GT 89 Mazda 323 GTX
Pattie Hughes/Columbus, OH
7. Tom Ottey/Columbus, OH (2) Production GT 89 Mazda 323 GTX
Pam McGarvey/Columbus, OH
8. Mark Utecht/St Paul, MN (2) Group 5 86 Dodge Omni
Diane Sargent/Saginaw, MN
9. H L Krolikowski/Wyandotte, MI (2) Group 5 87 Dodge Shadow GT
Cindy Krolikowski, Wyandotte, MI
10. Garen Shrader/Memphis, TN (3) Open 98 Mitsubishi Evo IV
F.R. Doc Shrader/Memphis, TN
11. Sylvester Stepniewski/Keansburg, NJ (3) Open 87 Audi quattro
Adam Pelc/Middle Village, NY
12. Ken Stewart/Grove, OK (3) Open 85 Chevrolet S-10
Jim Dale/Conway, AR
13. Karl Scheible/Spencerport, NY (3) Production 91 Volkswagen GTI
Gail McGuire/Avon, NY
14. Thomas Lawless/New York, NY (4) Open 95 Eagle Talon
Sean Devine/New York, NY
15. Wayne Prochaska/Lake Orion, MI (4) Group 2 89 Volkswagen Golf
Annette Prochaska/Lake Orion, MI
16. Eric Schroeder/Indianapolis, IN (4) Open 84 Volkswagen Jetta
Jeff Secor/Hudsonville, MI
17. Celsus Donnelly/New York, NY (5) Production GT 90 Dodge Eagle Talon
TBA
18. Eric Burmeister/Zeeland, MI (5) Group 2 86 Volkswagen GTI
Mark Buskirk/Kentwood, MI
19. Evan Moen/Clarkston, MI (5) Production 97 Plymouth Neon ACR
Ronald Moen/Clarkston, MI
20. Roland McIvor/Rockford, IL (5) Production 93 Nissan Sentra
Brendan Boltan/Hopewell Jct, NY
21. Carlos Arrieta/Alexandria, VA (6) Open 84 Audi Quattro
Dick Casey/Fairfax Station, VA
22. Rob Bohn/Noblesville, IN (6) Production GT 91 Mitsubishi Eclipse
Todd Houtz/Evansville, IN
23. Douglas Davenport/Indianapolis, IN (6) Group 2 85 VW Golf
Allan Kintigh/Brooklyn Park, MN
24. Scott Harvey, Jr./Waterford, MI (6) Group 5 75 Dodge Colt GT
Al Zifilippo/Shelby Twp, MI
25. Brian Vinson/Ferndale, MI (6) Production 88 VW Golf GTI
Richard Beels/Ferndale, MI
26. John Rek, Chicago, IL (6) Open 94 Audi S2
Clark Bond, MI
27. Scott Carlborn/Hancock, MI Open 92 Jeep Comanche
Dale Dewald/Hancock, MI
28. Lynn Dillon/Indianapolis, IN Group 5 88 Pontiac Sunbird
J B Lewis/Columbus, OH
29. Jeremy Butts/Houghton, MI Group 5 77 Plymouth Arrow
Peter Jacobs/Grandville, MI
30. John Zoerner/Warrenville, IL Group 5 85 Dodge Omni GLH Turbo
Gregory Reno/Wayland, MI
31. Mike Moyer/Neenah, WI Group 5 87 Toyota MR2
Chris Gilligan/Hartford, WI
32. Timothy Winker/Saginaw, MN Group 2 79 Saab 99GL
Brenda Corneliusen/Bloomington, MN
33. Jonathon Butts/Dearborn Hts, MI Group 2 85 Dodge Omni
Gary Butts/Ada, MI
34. J B Niday/Richfield, MN Group 2 79 Ford Fiesta
Lea Hoffa/Minneapolis, MN
35. David S Cizmas/Houghton, MI Group 2 91 Suzuki Swift
David L Cizmas/Troy. MI
36. James Buchwitz/Roseau, MN Group 2 83 Mercury Lynx
C O Rudstrom/Side Lake, MN
37. Art Burmeister/Sterling, MI Group 2 87 VW GTI
Randy Moore/Tawas City, MI
38. Edward Mucklow/St Aibars, WV Production 98 Mitsubishi Mirage LS
Mark Bowers/Afton, VA
39. Mark Lapid/South Bend, IN Production 97 Dodge Neon
Michael Busalacchi/Lincolnshire, IL
40. Charles Sherrill/Hickory, NC Production 89 Honda Civic CRX
Mark Rea/Hickory, NC
Sno*Drift ProRally; Round 1
1999 Michelin SCCA ProRally Championship
Atlanta, Michigan; February 20, 1999
Press Notes #1
1.) Good morning and welcome to sunny and crisp Atlanta, Michigan, home of
the 1999 Sno*Drift ProRally, round 1 of the Michelin SCCA ProRally
Championship. Primarily due to ongoing technical problems, as well as the
need to meet with people who are at this event, we have not been able to
post any reports prior to now. The technical problems really aren't
resolved, but we will continue work around them.
2.) Actually, a more appropriate greeting might have been (phonetically,
because I don't speak the language) something approximating Gung Hee Fah
Choi. Happy Chinese New Year!
3.) It is very fitting that the 1999 series gets started today, the
beginning of the Year of the Rabbit, a creature known for its speed and
resilience. ProRally also is a resilient creature of speed and it, too, is
at a new beginning.
4.) The weather here is absolutely perfect for a winter rally. There has
been some snow and cold throughout the week, but today is brilliantly clear
and crisp, with temperatures expected to be in the mid-20s.
5.) The roads are covered with ice and snow, with substantial banks on both
sides in many places. There also are a number of places where the gap
between the banks is little more than a car-width across.
6.) According to rally officials, locals and drivers who participated in
yesterday's press stage. Once the thin layer of snow gets worn off, these
roads are going to get extremely slick in places. They're going to deliver
some real surprises, especially for cars at the front of the field when
they run a stage for the second time.
7.) Last evening, the one car damaged on the press stage rejoined the
field. The J.B. Niday/Leah Hoffa Fiesta missed a finish-control sign that
had blown down and suffered significant front-end damage. However, a bit of
creative cosmetic surgery made it possible for the team to start today,
albeit with just two lights up front.
8.) Thirty-eight cars started the rally, beginning at 10:01 this morning,
in front of rally headquarters, the A Wind-Sans motel here in Atlanta. (Due
to the lateness of this posting, the combined entry list/starting order
will be posted after we get caught up on the notes.)
9.) Two World Rally Championship-level supercars were near the front of the
field, both Open Class Mitsubishi Evo IVs. Peter Lahm and Matt Chester were
second off the line in theirs. Garen and Doc Shrader started 10th in
theirs.
10.) Cal Landau and Eric Marcus led the field away from the start line in
their Production GT Mitsubishi Eclipse. Not far behind them, a pair of
Mazda 323 GTXs set up to challenge Landau/Marcus for the class honors. The
Gail Truess/Pattie Hughes car started sixth, with the Tom Ottey/Pam
McGarvey 323 right behind them.
11.) Waiting in line to start the event in his rented-for-this-rally
Production Class Volkswagen GTi, Karl Scheible pointed out that this is the
first time he has ever rented anything with a roll cage in it. However, as
any experienced traveler would, he was quick to point out that he had
"declined all coverages."
12.) During the first service halt, comedian and "concerned citizen" Eric
Marcus (Cal Landau co-driver) stopped by the press room to suggest that the
roads were so slick and difficult to drive that perhaps rally officials
should prevent anyone behind them from restarting the event "in the
interest of their safety." Of course, he and Cal were first on the road at
the time!
13.) Garen and Doc Shrader found their Evo IV to be a quick ride in the
opening going. However, they had to drive most of Stages 2, 3 and 4 on a
flat, after getting a pair of flats simultaneously - with just one spare
aboard. The mishap cost them a few minutes overall, and dropped them back
to 16th on the first re-seed, but Doc was optimistic about their chances.
14.) One of the better pre-event predictions about conditions was "He who
goes off stays off." So far, that little bit of prophecy hasn't come true.
However, as more and more stages are run, more and more people are talking
about having been off or having helped pull people back on the road. Also,
more and more cars are exhibiting bodywork that appears to have been
"naturally rearranged."
Sno*Drift
Press Notes
Page 3
15.) A significant portion at the beginning of Stage 9 has been dropped.
Most of McCormack Lake Road will be dropped, and the stage now will start
where the original layout joined Lutz Road.
16.) Carlos Arrieta, who is driving an Open Class Audi quattro with Dick
Casey navigating, started rallying in Spain in 1963. The snow and ice
doesn't concern him too much. What he does feel is a problem is the ice on
off-camber turns.
17.) Tim Winker (Group 2 Saab 99 with Brenda Corneliusen navigating), who
has had his encounter with the snow and a bit of trouble changing a tire,
describes the team's current approach thusly, "We may be conservative, but
at least we're slow."
18.) Karl Scheible, who is renting a Volkswagen Gti for this event, will be
running a new Beetle later in the year when, as soon as the car is ready.
19.) Eric Burmeister and Mark Buskirk (Group 2 Volkswagen Gti) retired at
the spectator area on Stage 6, reason not given yet.
20.) Brian Vinson/Richard Beels (Production Class Volkswagen Golf GTi)
searched in vain last night for a two-cent seal for the clutch-actuation
shaft. No one had one. So they rigged up a fitting, tube and funnel system
to keep refilling the transmission. Near the midpoint of the rally, they
figured that they had added 15 quarts of gear oil to their two-quart
transmission. It's a pain in the neck; but, on the flip side, they figure
that the underside of the car never will rust.
21.) Toward the end of the dinner break, Pete Lahm (Open Class Mitsubshi
Evo IV with Matt Chester navigating)looked out the window of the press room
at the setting sun. Sitting roughly in fifth place at that point, and
apparently thinking about the already icy roads and the sharp cold that
soon would return, he said, "Now the fun begins,"
22.) During an after-dark service halt Ken Stewart explained that his Open
Class Chevrolet S-10 pickup simply wasn't getting any traction, which was
making for a very long day. "I'd never done a winter rally," he said," and
I wanted to do one before I got too old or quit. I think today's the day I
got too old."
Sno*Drift
Press Notes
Page 4
23.) The attraction of a winter rally has brought workers from long
distances. One drove out from Boulder, Colorado. Another, a sailor from
Rhode Island, dropped the kids off with grandma and snagged grandpa to help
with the driving out to the rally.
24.) While they didn't come from there for this rally, there is a South
African couple working the event. They really enjoy US events, and add that
South African events are much more like our events than those in Europe.
25.) The Group 2 Charles Sherrill/Mark Rea Honda Civic has come into
service with moderate front-end damage -- mangled fender and bumper cover,
etc. They had been running third in class earlier, before their troubles.
They will continue.
26.) Unofficially, after seven stages we have a pair of Production GT Mazda
323 GTXs running one-two. Tom Ottey and Pam McGarvey have the lead, hotly
pursued by Gail Truess and Pattie Hughes. A little over a minute separates
them. Interestingly, three of the four people in the two cars are ladies.
John Kemp and Brian Maxwell (Audi quattro) have the Open Class lead, about
30 seconds behind.
27.) Karl Scheible and Gail McGuire had the Production Class lead in their
rented Golf GTi. They sat 12th overall, a very comfortable six minutes
ahead of their nearest competitor, unofficially. Right behind them were the
unoffical Group 5 leaders, Henry and Cindy Krolikowski, in a Dodge Shadow.
Right behind them were the Group 2 leaders at that point, Wayne and Annette
Prochaska, driving a Volkswagen Golf. Next came Mark Utecht and Diane
Sargent, the Group 5 leaders with their Dodge Omni.
28.) At that point, three vehicles were out of the event. First out was the
Open Class Jeep Comanche of Scott Calborn and Dale Dewald, who had two
flats on the first stage but only one spare. The other two dropped out
after the fifth stage. In addition to the Eric Burmeister/Mark Buskirk
Volkswagen GTi, the Open Class Audi quattro of Sylvester Stepniewski and
Adam Pelc only completed five stages.
Sno*Drift
Press Notes
Page 5
29.) Update to a previous note: Garen Shrader (Open Class Mitsubishi Evo IV
with father Doc navigating) reports that he did not get his two flats
simultaneously on Stage 2. He got one flat (right rear) and put on the
car's lone spare, then got the other flat in Stage 3 and had to limp on.
30.) A number of drivers and co-drivers who had not been in their drivers'
suits for several months were heard commenting on what they viewed as the
odd phenomenon of Nomex shrinking when left in a dark closet unloved and
unused for a few months.
31.) The battle at the front between the two Mazda GTXs continued
throughout the rally's middle sages. Ottey and Truess both were running
very well in their lighter and nimbler mounts than were those in the
bigger, heavier, more powerful cars. Ottey and Truess traded fast times,
with Ottey generally just a few ticks quicker.
32.) Update to a previous note: The Eric Burmeister/Mark Buskirk Volkswagen
GTi retired on Stage 6 after hitting a bank and breaking a front strut.
Driver and co-driver made repairs on the scene, in front of a spectator
area. However, when they finished, they found that the force of the crash
had pushed the wheel back against the body, and they were unable to
continue.
33.) During a night service halt, Production Class leaders Ken Scheible and
Gail McGuire (Volkswagen GTi) commented on the slick conditions. Co-driver
McGuire, who started in TSD rallying more than 40 years ago, described
Stages 6 and 7 as like being in a demolition derby. At the time, they were
several minutes ahead of their nearest rivals.
34.) Scott Harvey Jr., son of one of rallying's well-known names from an
earlier era, got caught out by ice on Stage 11. He and co-driver Al
Zifilippo went straight off after encountering some of the ice. They
centerpunched a tree and rumpled everthing on the front of the car
virtually all the way back to the windshield. The crew is optimistic that
the car will run again someday, but no more today.
35.) After 10 stages, the battle between overall-leading Mazda 323 GTXs
still was going strong, with Ottey unofficially about 90 seconds ahead, and
the two cars one-two on the road. Third and fourth on the road went to the
first- and second-place Open Class cars, respectively. Jon Kemp and Brian
Maxwell (Audi quattro) had the advantage there, by about a minute, over
Peter Lahm and Matt Chester in one of the Mitsubishi Evo IVs.
36.) Back in Production, the Scheible/McGuire Volkswagen Golf GTi was
enjoying roughly a 10-minute lead and cruising.
Sno*Drift
Press Notes
Page 6
37.) J.B. Niday (Group 2 Ford Fiesta with Lea Hoffa navigating) rolled on
Stage 15 and wound up with the car lying on its side facing oncoming
traffic. Next along was the Open Class Chevrolet S-10 pickup of Ken Stewart
and Jim Dale, who stopped and helped get the car back on its wheels. The
Fiesta had lost a window but continued on to the finish. With temperatures
falling toward zero, driver Niday reported that it got really cold in the
car. This was a sold car, however, and he was speculating that the
well-wrinkled bodywork meant that the sale was off.
38.) Twelve proved to be an unlucky number for Gail Truess. At one point on
that stage, she could smell burning rubber. It turned out to be the belt
that drives her Mazda 323 GTX's water pump. She got through the stage, but
not before the engine overheated thoroughly. That ended the great battle
for the lead that she and Pattie Hughes had been putting on up to then with
the Ottey/McGarvey GTX.
39.) At the end of the rally, Truess and Hughes stopped by the press room.
Despite the disappointment of being knocked out while running so well, they
were very upbeat. Hughes summed up their emotions pretty well when she
said, 'Fun deal, fun rally. Watch the girls kick butt this year!'
40.) With Truess and Hughes out, it suddenly was smooth sailing for Ottey
and McGarvey. But not too smooth. Near the end of the event, five elk
wandered across the stage not too far in front of them. Then, on the final
stage, they got a puncture three miles from the finish. They elected to
limp to the end and change the tire after the finish control. They did
this, but watched their precious cushion over second overall melt away. In
the end, they still came away victorious, first overall and first in
Production GT.
41.) Open Class winners Jon Kemp and Brian Maxwell (Audi quattro) were
second overall, just over two minutes behind.
42.) Karl Scheible and Gail McGuire won Production handily in the rented
Golf GTi, nearly 10 minutes ahead of the second-place finisher in the
class.
43.) Right behind them came Group 5 winers Henry and Cindy Krolikowski
(Dodge Shadow), less than three minutes in front of second in the class.
44.) Wayne and Annette Prochaska were the Group 2 winners in an extremely
tight finish. They brought their Volkswagen Golf GTi home a mere 14
hundredths of a minute ahead of the Suzuki Swift of David S. and David L.
Cizmas.
Sno*Drift
Press Notes
Page 7
45.) Here is the finishing order for the first 15 finishers:
1.) Tom Ottey/Pam Garvey, Mazda 323 GTX,
2.) Jon Kemp/Brian Maxwell, Audi quattro,
3.) Peter Lahm/Matt Chester, Mitsubishi Evo IV,
4.) Chris Czyzio/Eric Carlson, Mitsubishi Eclipse,
5.) Cal Landau/Eric Marcus, Mitsubishi Eclipse,
6.) Rob Bohn/Todd Houtz, Mitsubishi Eclipse,
7.) Garen Shrader/Doc Shrader, Mitsubishi Evo IV,
8.) Celsus Donnelly/Brendan Lawless, Eagle Talon,
9.) Brian Pepp/Jerry Stang, Eagle Talon,
10.) Karl Scheible/Gail McGuire, Volkswagen GTi,
11.) Henry and Cindy Krolikowski, Dodge Shadow;
12.) Mark Utecht/Diane Sargent, Dodge Omni,
13.) Brian Vinson/Richard Beels, Volkswagen Golf GTi,
14.) Jeremy Butts/Peter Jacobs, Plymouth Arrow,
15.) Wayne and Annette Prochaska, Volkswagen Golf.
46.) The next round of the Michelin SCCA ProRally Championship will be Doo
Wop III & IV, Mar. 12-13 in Olympia, Washington.
Final Results
Sno*Drift ProRally
Feb. 20, 1999
Position Car
O/A Cl. No. Driver/CoDriver Car Class Total
1 1 79 Tom Ottey/Pam McGarvey 89 Mazda 323 GTX PGT 12735
2 1 80 Jon Kemp/Brian Maxwell 84 Audi 4000 quattro Open 12940
3 2 34 Peter Lahm/Matt Chester 98 Mitsubishi Evo IV Open 12988
4 2 21 Chris Czyzio/Eric Carlson 91 Mitsubishi Eclipse PGT 13211
5 3 13 Cal Landau/Eric Marcus 91 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX PGT 13361
6 4 81 Rob Bohn/Todd Houtz 91 Mitsubishi Eclipse PGT 13473
7 3 14 Garen & F.R. Doc Shrader 98 Mitsubishi Evo IV Open 13498
8 5 68 Celsus Donnelly/Brendan Lawless 90 Eagle Talon PGT 13607
9 6 94 Brian Pepp/Jerry Stang 90 Eagle Talon PGT 13612
10 1 61 Karl Scheible/Gail McGuire 91 VW GTI P 14107
11 1 44 Henry & Cindy Krolikowski 87 Dodge Shadow GT G5 14333
12 2 83 Mark Utecht/Diane Sargent 86 Dodge Omni G5 14614
13 2 55 Brian Vinson/Richard Beels 88 VW Golf GTI P 15098
14 3 575 Jeremy Butts/Peter Jacobs 77 Plymouth Arrow G5 15100
15 1 113 Wayne & Annette Prochaska 89 VW Golf G2 15160
16 2 591 David S. & David L. Cizmas 91 Suzuki Swift G2 15174
17 4 59 John Rek/Clark Bond 94 Audi S2 Open 15346
18 3 41 Art Burmeister/Randy Moore 87 VW GTI G2 15597
19 5 93 Eric Schroeder/Jeff Secor 84 VW Jetta Open 15670
20 6 43 Carlos Arrieta/Dick Casey 84 Audi quattro Open 15931
21 3 36 Evan & Ronald Moen 97 Plymouth Neon ACR P 15954
22 4 58 Roland McIvor/Brendan Boltan 93 Nissan Sentra P 16175
23 4 56 Douglas Davenport/Allan Kintigh 85 VW Golf G2 16299
24 5 63 Mark Lapid/Michael Busalacchi 97 Dodge Neon P 16441
25 5 69 Charles Sherrill/Mark Rea 89 Honda Civic CRX G2 17126
26 4 87 Lynn Dillon/J. B. Lewis 88 Pontiac Sunbird G5 17757
27 5 548 John Zoerner/Gregory Reno 85 Dodge Omni GLH T G5 18192
28 6 599 Timothy Winker/Brenda Corneliusen 79 SAAB 99GL G2 18703
29 7 117 Ken Stewart/Jim Dale 85 Chevrolet S-10 Open 19514
30 7 531 J. B. Niday/Lea Hoffa 79 Ford Fiesta G2 19940
31 8 538 James Buchwitz/C. O. Rudstrom 83 Mercury G2 21195
32 7 16 Gail Truess/Pattie Hughes 89 Mazda 323 GTX PGT DNF
33 8 64 Sylvester Stepniewski/Adam Pelc 87 Audi quattro Open DNF
34 9 70 Thomas Lawless/Sean Divine 95 Eagle Talon Open DNF
35 9 42 Eric Burmeister/Mark Buskirk 86 VW GTI G2 DNF
36 10 540 Scott Carlborn/Dale Dewald 92 Jeep Comanche Open DNF
37 6 570 Scott Harvey Jr./Al Zifilippo 75 Dodge Colt G5 DNF
38 10 522 Johnathan Butts/Gary Butts 85 Dodge Omni G2 DNF
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Contact: Ed Jacobs (330) 644-7774 Date: February 22, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ottey and McGarvey Take Surprise Overall Win in Sno*Drift ProRally
ATLANTA, Michigan -- Surprising many of the "experts" on the sidelines,
the hard-charging duo of Tom Ottey and Pam McGarvey brought their
all-wheel-drive Mazda 323 GTX home first overall in the Feb. 20
Sno*Drift ProRally. In the process, they also claimed first in the
Production GT class.
The event was the season-opener for the 1999 Michelin SCCA ProRally
Championship. True to its wintry name, the rally was held over snow- and
ice-encrusted roads, under brilliantly clear skies. The 16 stages,
totaling 106 miles (the longest just over 15 miles) all were within 20
miles of the event's headquarters, and provided all the tricky
challenges competitors could handle on the super-slick surfaces.
Despite the presence of two Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV supercars,
both of which experienced a measure of difficulties, Ottey and McGarvey
immediately surged to the head of the 38-car field. For much of the
event they were hounded by Gail Truess and Pattie Hughes, in another 323
GTX, until overheating put them out of the event.
It still wasn't easy sledding for Ottey and McGarvey after that, though,
as five elk later ambled across the road in front of them while they
were at speed. Then they had to drive the final three competition miles
on a puncture, all the while watching for the second-place Audi 4000
Quattro of Jon Kemp and Brian Maxwell, which was coming on fast. Kemp
and Maxwell fell about two minutes short in the end, but still claimed
the Open Class win, second overall.
Third overall and second in the Open Class went to Pete Lahm and Matt
Chester, who were getting the measure of their Mitsubishi Evo IV as the
rally progressed. They were another half-minute back of Kemp/Maxwell.
Runners-up to Ottey and McGarvey in Production were Chris Czyzio and
Eric Carlson, fourth overall in a Mitsubishi Eclipse.
Karl Scheible and Gail McGuire had a comparatively easy time in winning
the Production Class. They were 10th overall in a Volkswagen Golf GTi,
rented for the occasion while Scheible awaits completion of his
new-style Volkswagen Beetle ProRally car. Second-in-class fell to Brian
Vinson and Richard Beels, in another Golf GTi.
Group 5 winners Henry and Cindy Krolikowski finished 11th overall in
their Dodge Shadow GT, a little over two minutes behind
Scheible/McGuire. Early Group 5 leaders Mark Utecht and Diane Sargent
finished right behind the Krolikowskis, 12th overall in their Dodge
Omni.
The battle for Group 2 honors was very tight at the finish. Wayne and
Annette Prochaska went home victorious, 15th overall in their Volkswagen
Golf. However, they were only about six seconds clear of second-place
finishers David S. and David L. Cizmas in their Suzuki Swift.
The next round of the Michelin SCCA ProRally Championship will be the
dual-event Doo Wop III and Doo Wop IV, which will take place over the
weekend of March 12-14 and will be based in Olympia, Washington.
Final Results
Sno*Drift ProRally
Feb. 20, 1999
Position Car
O/A Cl. No. Driver/CoDriver Car Class Total
1 1 79 Tom Ottey/Pam McGarvey 89 Mazda 323 GTX PGT 12735
2 1 80 Jon Kemp/Brian Maxwell 84 Audi 4000 Quattro Open 12940
3 2 34 Peter Lahm/Matt Chester 98 Mitsubishi Evo IV Open 12988
4 2 21 Chris Czyzio/Eric Carlson 91 Mitsubishi Eclipse PGT 13211
5 3 13 Cal Landau/Eric Marcus 91 Mitsubishi Eclipse PGT 13361
6 4 81 Rob Bohn/Todd Houtz 91 Mitsubishi Eclipse PGT 13473
7 3 14 Garen & F.R. Doc Shrader 98 Mitsubishi Evo IV Open 13498
8 5 68 Celsus Donnelly/Brendan Lawless 90 Eagle Talon PGT 13607
9 6 94 Brian Pepp/Jerry Stang 90 Eagle Talon PGT 13612
10 1 61 Karl Scheible/Gail McGuire 91 VW GTI P 14107
11 1 44 Henry & Cindy Krolikowski 87 Dodge Shadow GT G5 14333
12 2 83 Mark Utecht/Diane Sargent 86 Dodge Omni G5 14614
13 2 55 Brian Vinson/Richard Beels 88 VW Golf GTI P 15098
14 3 575 Jeremy Butts/Peter Jacobs 77 Plymouth Arrow G5 15100
15 1 113 Wayne & Annette Prochaska 89 VW Golf G2 15160
16 2 591 David S. & David L. Cizmas 91 Suzuki Swift G2 15174
17 4 59 John Rek/Clark Bond 94 Audi S2 Open 15346
18 3 41 Art Burmeister/Randy Moore 87 VW GTI G2 15597
19 5 93 Eric Schroeder/Jeff Secor 84 VW Jetta Open 15670
20 6 43 Carlos Arrieta/Dick Casey 84 Audi quattro Open 15931
21 3 36 Evan & Ronald Moen 97 Plymouth Neon ACR P 15954
22 4 58 Roland McIvor/Brendan Boltan 93 Nissan Sentra P 16175
23 4 56 Douglas Davenport/Allan Kintigh 85 VW Golf G2 16299
24 5 63 Mark Lapid/Michael Busalacchi 97 Dodge Neon P 16441
25 5 69 Charles Sherrill/Mark Rea 89 Honda Civic CRX G2 17126
26 4 87 Lynn Dillon/J. B. Lewis 88 Pontiac Sunbird G5 17757
27 5 548 John Zoerner/Gregory Reno 85 Dodge Omni GLH T G5 18192
28 6 599 Tim Winker/Brenda Corneliusen 79 SAAB 99GL G2 18703
29 7 117 Ken Stewart/Jim Dale 85 Chevrolet S-10 Open 19514
30 7 531 J. B. Niday/Lea Hoffa 79 Ford Fiesta G2 19940
31 8 538 James Buchwitz/C. O. Rudstrom 83 Mercury G2 21195
32 7 16 Gail Truess/Pattie Hughes 89 Mazda 323 GTX PGT DNF
33 8 64 Sylvester Stepniewski/Adam Pelc 87 Audi quattro Open DNF
34 9 70 Thomas Lawless/Sean Divine 95 Eagle Talon Open DNF
35 9 42 Eric Burmeister/Mark Buskirk 86 VW GTI G2 DNF
36 10 540 Scott Carlborn/Dale Dewald 92 Jeep Comanche Open DNF
37 6 570 Scott Harvey Jr./Al Zifilippo 75 Dodge Colt G5 DNF
38 10 522 Johnathan Butts/Gary Butts 85 Dodge Omni G2 DNF